Kentuckyseven

Label: Bella Union / SubPop

Releasedate: 2011-05-02

Having almost created a genre of their own with the first album, this Seattle-based folk band follows up with greatness. A sophomore album with dignity. I am stunned, just like in 2008.

Mr Pecknold know his way around folk, having created the feeling of the sixties-sound cloaked in a modern wardrobe. The vocals and instruments makes you wait for the next album already. The lyrics are like stories, and wanders from barefoot to heavy workboots. Know this, this album is bound for many late night sessions in the summer to come.

In interviews, Pecknold refers to his feelings for this album, wanting to create something in the vicinity of Van Morrisson’s Astral Weeks. Beeing inspired by Roy Harpers album Stormcock. I say this is nothing less than epic stuff.

Like many follow-ups, the anticipation is great, and having followed Fleet Foxes during the process, on Twitter, I have been more than inpatient. I have to say, the wait was not at all in vain, it exceeded my expactations. Way beyond, that is.

Fleet Foxes will be playing Way Out West this summer, I will be there, believe me, I will be there.

Close to perfection, again. This album is a clear six. A Kentuckyseven-Classic already.

Release: 2011-04-25

Label: Bella Union

Alessi Laurente-Marke, is exactly what the world needs. Her music deserves to be heard by every each and one. The 21 year old british musician, is doing just about everything right.

Her sophomore album ”Time Travel” is no exception. The sound is familiar, but it has grown. Oh how it has grown. From her previous releases, it has made a journey, to new higher grounds. The lyrics are greater, still narrowing down just so they fit the exquisite guitars and pianos of what is Alessi’s Ark.

I must have exceeded the number of times you are allowed to listen to an EP, listening to her EP ”The Horse” from 2008. Four songs that completely blew my mind, and still do.

”Time Travel” feels like the right way, to get to know Alessi, if your ways haven’t crossed before. The way the album winds down several beautiful roads, with the delicate voice of Alessi, is like beeing on a great excursion, in forests, fields and the countryroads of which ever great country on earth. And beeing guided by these songs is just close to perfection.

I still haven’t had the luck of seeing this great artist live yet, but from what I have heard, it is just as beautiful, so I keep waiting. Waiting for the Ark to set sail for sweden. I will be at the docks waiting.

6 out of 7, what else is there to do? This is amazing stuff.

Wanna know more about the artist Alessi’s Ark? We had the fortune of getting a word with Alessi, a while ago… read more.

Release: 2011-04-18

Label: Geffen / Wrasse Records

The sound of Guillemots is recognized by the way they keep changing the sounds. But the energy and the desperate love is recognized in every song.

Walk The River, is no exception, the music moves from high and wide, to low and dark. The titlesong is somewhat ”too clean” but still a seriously grand rocktune. And would surely fit on any indie-club with self respect. The way it winds up from a low key with great vocals by Fyfe Dangerfield, to a full blown brit-anthem.

This, the third album from the band feels more mature and yet wild and unexpected. Recorded in Bryn Derwen Studios, an old mansion in rural Whales. Produced by David Kosten (Bat for Lashes, Everything Everything).

If anything, this is an album that will grow on you. Probably best listened to in the dark, with plenty of alcohol present. This would probably not be classified as easy-listening, but if you are a fan of british smart indie rock, this is very much for you and your likes. I like it.

There is an eighties-feeling present, and at the same time something timeless, and familiar. When Verve was at their best, something like that. That feeling of carelessness, with affection.

It is sharply put together, with the roughness still close by. The athmospere, harmonies, and effects creates a bold presentation.

Fyfe creates moods, with great songs, and vocals, like always. You know instantly if this is an album for you. I know I took it instantly to my collection of great records.

Five out of seven is great. This is a great album.

Release: 2011-04-18
Label: Heavenly Recordings / SubPop

Feels Like Hallelujah For The First Time…

Nothing better describes the feeling that crept upon me, when I first heard the sound of this Seattle-band. Something religious. Hallelujah.

The first thing that hits you, listening to this debut-album is that it can’t be a debut. Every song is carved in to your rainy, cold smothered heart, and just brushes everything off. Right there, on the first note. The first chorus.

When I saw the band, at Pustervik, I said to myself, and everyone I could get a hold of -This is something big. I was preaching for the choir. Everyone in that place already knew. I spoke to the band after the gig, and they were not that convinced. Yet. Humble people, that just love what they are doing. And how they do it.

All songs are like riddles, they start out in one way, and end up on another note, still sticking together like small short movies. One of the strongest song on the album, Down in The Valley, is writing references to ancient American songwriters as Dylan and other heroes. The piano, the strings and the ”Lord”. You have to be someone special to get away with. The Head & The Heart is something special. Very special.

I find myself, tapping my knees with my hands, stomping my feet, nodding my head completely open in buses, trains and all over the place. Completely unembarrassed. Like I could never see myself do before. This record is creating some kind of havoc in the controlled ordinary life that is mine.

The way this band present themselves on this album, is in no way ordinary, they have proved that this is something that will stay around for a long long time.

The song Rivers and Roads is a fine example of how to use all the knowledge and skills in the group. Charity is extraordinary in the way she finishes the dramatic end of the song. And experienced live, I know for a fact, that it can only be more exploding when standing close.

Magic is the proper word for describing it.

This is in every way thinkable a Kentucky Seven.

Release date: March 28 on City Slang.

¤ Alexi Murdoch seems like a really cool guy. Born i London, raised in Scotland, Greece and France and then moved to North Carolina. Nowadays he lives in two places, New York and a small house on the west coast of Scotland where he spends his days writing and working on a small wooden sailing boat. I see – and thoroughly enjoy – that picture.

Now this british singer-songwriter releases his third recording, Towards The Sun. I was told this album was recorded in one sitting, one remarkable night in Vancouver during his 2009 North American-tour. Man, the intensity and the guts. Toward The Sun is a quiet and intimate album. It is often simple but touching lyrics, as in the beautiful Through The Dark: “I love you girl, I love you more than I can say, even with my heart in the way”.

I can´t help of thinking of two Swedes, Christian Kjellvander and Jose Gonzalez, with their unique sound. Together with Alexi Murdoch they are brothers in arms, wheter they like it or not. A kind of ruthless talent that won´t cave in. A sound of silence. It´s compelling and precious and right there infront of us.

Judge says: 5/7 Kentuckyseven´s

Best tracks: Some Day Soon & Through The Dark

Drink while you listen: Nero d´Avola

Cocoon – Where The Oceans End
Label: Co-op / Sober & Gentle
Release (SWE): 2011-03-21

They could have fooled me. This is french folk, with no taste of strong cigarettes or week old red wine.

The french duo consisting of Mark Daumail and Morgane Imbeaud create gloomy soundscapes and beautiful moods. Throughout the entire record, the stories are laid out, naked and intimate. This is music for those who love a good romance. This is like hooking up and breaking up, all at the same time. Emotions rolling on the carefully sung harmonies.

Comparing Cocoon with artists like Eliott Smith, Sufjan Stevens is easy, but still this is something else. The sound of a man and a woman.

In this genre, this is extraordinary, considering it is a thin line between to much, and not enough. Where The Oceans End makes you wish there was another album in the sleeve.

Close to a seven, the number six fits like a glove.

Waiting for more.

Releasedate: March 15 on Cooking Vinyl.

The second album from Reading-based DIOYY jumps at you from the get-go. This is excellent, full of emotions, uplifting stuff. Buckle up and upset your neighbours.

DIOYY have toured with Prodigy, Nine Inch Nail and Bloc Party and their music is the centerfold of that magazine. Electronic with a prevailing attitude. These guys take shit from no man, woman or animal.

Singer James Rushent is really convincing, his voice will not let go, get´s to your inside. It´s neon light music with that party-punk-dance you actually need every once in a while. Loud and clear.

The band took their bandname from a David Brent-quote; Ricky Gervais´ Office-dude said “My drinking, does it offend you, yeah?” Not a bad start.

And to quote DIOYY themselves; ”The funky monkey is coming.”

¤ Judge says: 5/7 Kentuckyseven´s

¤ Best track: John Hurt

¤ Drink while you listen: Umbrellas

¤ Check out: Spotify or Myspace.

Label. Bella Union
Releasedate: 2011-03-21

Thousands is Kristian Garrard and Luke Bergman, hailing from Seattle, voice-match made in heaven I’d say.

Their debut ”The Sound of Everything” is something special. Recorded throughout the US vast pacific northwest. The record contains sounds of not only great vocals, hymnal sound and instruments, also the sound of birds chirping, leaves falling. Nature recorded on their journey to create the album that would become ”The sound of Everything”.

As Thousands themselves explain ”- We want people to listen to this with headphones on and feel like they’re immersed in these locations, and there’s us, sitting next to you, playing a song.”

This is yet another delicate example of great debut records, and another golden star in the book of magic artists signed to Bella Union.

Fleet Foxes’ guitarist Skye Skjelset, brought the attention to the label, and somewhere in the beauty of this album, there is a little fleet fox hiding away.

Listening to this, makes you feel good. It is by definition a feel-good sound throughout all 12 tracks, and it appeals to me. The way I need to feel. Kristian and Luke’s vocals are somehow mixing, melting together and gently steering the way in to the listeners heart. I am sure that it will not be long until I am driving my car to the store, humming these tunes.

Looking for something new and fresh, which will make your day just a little brighter. You might just have found it.

The Sound of Everything is a sure 5/7, and Thousands will be something to try and catch this year…

Check out more about Thousands @ Thousands.com or get a feeling of the album to come here…

Label: City Slang

Release date: 2011-02-28

The first impression of Shore To Shore is that Norman Palm is a great vocalist. Pleasant. The voice sounds like it was meant to do one thing. To sing.

My favorite track on the album is Easy. Pop, electro and stylish out in to the corners. With the right amount of bass playing in the background. This is art.

The album in its entirety is like a exhibition, in a dark gallery, you can imagine the songs as paintings. The artist Norman Palm knows how to paint a soundscape, breathtaking sometimes, enjoyable and powerful. All at the same time.

Integrating a great variety of instruments, like the guitar sound in the song smile, Norman Palm shows his width again and again.

Shore To Shore is nothing less than a 5 out of 7 K7’s. A large album. Something to write to your friends about. I am hoping for great things for Norman Palm in 2011. Which I am sure he will receive.

Listen to Easy:

Easy by Norman Palm

Visit Norman Palm’s website @ NormanPalm.com

Released Feb 21 via Bella Union.

This Rhode Island (a sauce in Sweden, a place in America) quartet got all the checks they ever gonna need. Facial hair. Check. Lo-Fi. Check. Checked shirt. Double-check. This is an introspective, honest bunch.

Smart Flesh aint no Oh my God Charlie Darwin – the bands breakthru from 2008. Then it was a splattered Wilco/Bon Iver/Tom Waits/Fleet Foxes-vibe. This is more of a one way street, recorded in a Pastafactory with an eerie sound. Some parts I don´t understand, like the instrumental song #6 Wire. Puts my focus elsewhere.

This is a beautiful album. It´s lullabies for the people, it´s rootsy ballads, it´s that folk-acoustic music that belonged before us, long before man and his guitar. It´s the greater picture and you will have to kneel down to the power of songs like Boing 737, Hey All You Hippies and I´ll Take Out Your Ashes.

Smart Flesh is a record who needs your full attention, or it will get lost.

¤ Judge says: 5/7 Kentuckyseven´s

¤ Best track: Hey, All You Hippies

¤ Drink while you listen: Anura Pinotage Syrah (heavy, southaf, darkred)

¤ Check out: Spotify, Amazon.